Interview with Percy Elkins

On February 2, 1937, my folks moved to Jenkins. Approximately eight months thereafter, they moved to Cove Avenue where they have continued to live since the late 1930's.

I attended Jenkins Elementary and Jenkins High School, the University of Louisville two years, Eastern Kentucky University one year, part time, and Clinch Valley College approximately a year and a half to complete work for a degree in Business and Public Administration.

After graduating from high school in 1955, I was married to Linda Potter and we moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where I worked for General Electric Company for approximately 6 months. Then I went to work for the United States Auto Map surveyors, drafting topographical maps. I worked there for approximately two years until the spring of 1957, at which time we returned to Jenkins and I was employed by Beth-Elkhorn. They had just purchased the property from the Consolidation Coal Company. I worked at the central supply
G‑24approximately eleven years until the summer of 1968. During this time I continued seeking a degree and took courses at Eastern, Clinch Valley and Pikeville College.

My wife, Linda, attended Clinch Valley College two years and then attended Eastern State University and she received a degree in elementary education. We both attended Saturday classes for approximately a year and a half at Eastern.

In 1969, I decided to leave Beth-Elkhorn to finish my college work for a degree, so I returned full time to Clinch Valley, and in a year and a half of work completed my work for a degree in business administration. At this time, I was mayor of Jenkins and also acted as administrative assistant to County Judge Robert B. Collins, for approximately six months until I became employed by the Kentucky River Area Development District in September of 1970.

My work with the KRADD was being in charge of special impact funds granted to the district by the Office of Economic Opportunity through the Farmers Home Administration and accomplishing 14 projects in the eight counties I worked with. In April of 1971, I purchased the Western Shopping Center along with John Larkin Smith of Hazard and managed the Western Shopping Center for two years thereafter.

I returned to the KRADD District in the spring of 1972 in the position of Associate Director and am continuing to work with KRADD at this time.

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